Adjustable roller hanger for pocket type sliding doors



June 2, 1959 'M.SEIDI\ I.EIR 2,888,708

ADJUSTABLE ROLLER HANGER FOR POCKET TYPEi SLIDING DOORS Filed Aug. 22. 1955 FIG.4 'LNVENHMQ MILTON SEIDNER #TTORNEY ADJUSTABLE ROLLER HANGER FOR POCKET TYPE SLIDING DOORS Milton Seidner, Arcadia, Calif.

Application August 22, 1955, Serial No. 529,665

2 Claims. (Cl. 16-105) This invention relates to a hanger for a sliding door, and more particularly to a hanger which can be adjusted to hang a door properly in its frame.

Hinged doors between rooms and on closets require a great amount of space in the room into which they open. This space generally is wasted as it must be left free of obstacles for the opening of the door. Because of this wasted space, the use of sliding doors in modern homes has become very desirable but has been retarded by the difliculties experienced by builders in aligning them.

When the overhead track on which the door slides and the door frame are not in perfect alignment, and this situation occurs frequently, it can require many hours to hang the door properly. With labor costs being very high, this alignment adjustment becomes very expensive to the builder.

One of the most serious problems in hanging a sliding door is to cause the closing end of the door to be flush with that portion of the door frame against which it closes. In the same manner, it is difficult to cause the same end of the door to be flush with the opposite side of the door frame when the door is fully open and recessed or pocketed in the wall. These problems have been solved by the present invention which is a roller type hanger to be secured on top of the door and which is to be suspended for sliding in an overhead track. The unusual results produced are the ease and speed with which the present invention permits the proper hanging of the door. Generally two hangers are secured on the top of each door, one being adjacent to each end.

If the door, when first placed in the frame with the rollers in track, is not at the proper height or if it does not fit flush, when closed or fully open, as described above, it can be properly aligned by merely operating a screw in each hanger to raise or lower one or both ends of the door. This can be done in a matter of seconds.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an improved hanger for sliding doors.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a roller hanger for a sliding door which can be adjusted to raise and lower the door.

A further object of this invention is to provide a roller hanger for a sliding door which can be adjusted to properly align the door in its frame.

Other objects of invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a roller hanger assembly secured on a door with the door frame cut away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a roller hanger secured on a door;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a connecting adjustment screw and a horseshoe lock washer; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a connecting adjustment screw and a locking cotter pin.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, roller hanger assembly 1 is shown in position for sliding in track and is secured to door 16 by screws 5. Assembly 1 is comprised of two main parts, wheel bar 2 and door bar 3 which are connected by adjustment screw or link 8. Door bar 3 has base 4 which rests flat on top 16a of door 16 and is secured thereto by screws 5 (only one shown). Extending up from base 4, approximately at right angles thereto, is vertically directed side 6. Outward from side 6, approximately at right angles thereto, extends horizontally directed flange 7 in the direction opposite from base 4. Flange '7 has a non-threaded hole or opening through which extends screw 8. Screw 8 is locked against axial and vertical movement with respect to flange 7 by means of a horseshoe lock washer 9.

Wheel bar 2 has substantially vertical side 12 being generally parallel to and above side 6. Wheels or ball bearing rollers 13 are supported on shafts 14- which are mounted substantially perpendicularly to side 12. In the opposite direction of shafts 14 from side 12 extends, at approximate right angles, horizontally directed flange or channel base 11. Channel base 11 forms the top of downwardly directed channel 11a which has, at approximately right angles thereto, downwardly extending legs 10 and ltla. Channel base 11 has a threaded hole in which screw 8 is threadedly engaged to connect door bar 3 with wheel bar 2.

Channel 11a partially encompasses flange 7, channel base 11 being vertically above and legs ill and 10a bounding substantially parallel edges 7a and 7b of flange 7. There is clearance between edges 7a and 7b and legs 10 and 10a, respectively, so that flange 7 is flexible in channel 11a.

in Fig. 3 are shown adjustment screw 8 with circular groove 9a and horseshoe lock Washer 9 to be inserted in groove 9a after screw 8 extends through flange '7.

In Fig. 4 is shown another type of locking means to prevent the screw from moving vertical relative to flange 7. Screw 18 has hole 19a through which cotter pin 19 can be inserted after screw 18 is extended through flange 7.

In operation, generally there would be two roller hanger assemblies 1 spaced near the opposite ends of door top 16a. When door 16, having its plane generally parallel to track 15, is first hung on said track with the four wheels 13 engaged therein, need for adjustment can be readily determined. Adjustment is then made by raising or lowering flange 7 in channel 11:: by turning screw 8. In Fig. 1, flange 7 is relatively low in channel 11a and in Fig. 2, it is considerably higher which means that door 16 would have been raised that amount.

For example, when the door is hung and closed to the left and the lower part stands away from the left frame, adjustment can be made by lowering flange 7 on the right side of the door or raising flange 7 on the left side of the door, or by moving both flanges if it is necessary. The speed of this type of adjustment is readily apparent, as is the cost saving resulting therefrom.

The material used in the embodiment of the present invention shown in cadmium plated steel, except for the rollers which are of nylon.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

1. An adjustable roller hanger for pocket-type sliding doors, said hanger comprising a door bar, said door bar having -a substantially horizontal base member adapted to be secured to the top edge of a door, a first substantially vertical upwardly-directed side extending from one edge of said base, said first side having a horizontally-directed substantially fiat flange extending from its upper extremity, a wheel bar, said wheel bar having an elongated second side generally parallel to said first side, said second side having at least one roller mounted on one side thereof, said second side having a downwardly opening channel extending therefrom, the base of said channel extending away from said second side substantially at right angles thereto on the other side thereof, said channel base being in general vertical alignment with and above said flange so that the legs of said channel bound opposite ends of said flange, the legs of said channel extending downwardly from said channel base and terminating above said horizontal base, an adjusting screw connecting said door bar and said wheel bar through vertically aligned openings in said flange and said channel base so that vertical adjustment of said flange may be accomplished by the rotation of said screw in threads in said channel base in one direction to raise said flange with respect to said channel base and by the rotation of said screw in the other direction to lower said flange with respect to said channel base, said screw being loosely fitted in said threads in said channel base so as to permit slight horizontal movement of said flange between said channel legs when said flange is in the desired vertical adjustment.

2. An adjustable roller hanger for pocket-type sliding doors, said hanger comprising: a door bar; said door bar having a substantially horizontal base adapted to be secured to the top edge of a door and from which extends a substantially vertically upwardly directed first side; said first side having a substantially horizontally directed flange extending from its upper extremity; a wheel bar; said wheel bar having a second side generally parallel to said first side; said second side having rollers mounted thereon on one side thereof; said second side having a downwardly opening channel extending outwardly therefrom; the base of said channel extending away from said second side substantially at right angles thereto on the other side thereof; the legs of said channel extending downwardly from said channel base and terminating above the horizontal base of said door bar; said channel base being in general vertical alignment with and above said flange so that said legs bound opposite ends of said flange; and an adjusting screw connecting said door bar and said wheel bar through vertically aligned openings in said channel base and said flange; a head on said screw in abutment with the lower face of said flange; said opening in said channel base being threaded and said screw being threadedly engaged therein so that rotation of said screw adjusts the vertical position of said flange with respect to said channel base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 161,619 Lumbert "Apr. 6, 1875 537,395 Sumner Apr. 9, 1895 707,131 Luitink Aug. 19, 1902 862,561 Hunt Aug. 6, 1907 1,017,757 Hoffman Feb. 20, 1912 1,067,725 Flugger July 15, 1913 2,618,808 Spence et al Nov. 25, 1952 2,670,496 Knight Mar. 2, 1954 2,761,172 Iorgensen et a1. Sept. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 160,705 Switzerland June 1, 1933 164,750 Australia May 13, 1954 

